Lawn rake



may 6 1924.

U. G. SWEENEY LAWN R'AB Filed sept. 21. 19723 Patented May 6, 1924.

`uNrrnlaffsrmas tenen ULYssns swnnn'nv, or ransndhonnrrcnnrel 1 `v LAWN RARE. 5'

- Appucatmn'iedseptember21,1923. lseriai noeeacsa:

` l. l. A .t

Taall whommdycmicem:, 1 l Beit known that ULYssEs G. SwEnNnY,

a citizen of the United States. residing at,

Fresno, inthe countyofFresno .and State of California, has invented new and useful improvements in Lawn-Rakes, of which the following is a speciiieation Heretofore in lawn` rakes, `theteeth arey rigid, `hence in case the teeth entangle. with weeds or other obstructions there is no give, therefore the liabilityaot breaking-.the teeth. Furthermore, the grass is very vapt `to be torn up by theroots. due to. the rigidity-of the teeth. l `v i lt is the purpose of the present invention to provide a lawn rake whereinthel teethV are individuallyyieldable, allowing the teeth -to give in case ofcontact'with ob-v structions or in case o entanglement heavy growths.`

.Another purpose is to..provide, ina lawn rake, a construction including ba frame with means for retaining the rake teeth in position-rand `meansfor-:holding them equally with spaced, there being seats for the teethto hold the teeth in position when the rake is not in use.

Still another purpose is to providex-a rame'with a plurality of equally spaced openings for the reception of resilientcoils formed in the teeth, there being means passing through the aligned` coils to retain the teeth on the frame and allow the teeth to enter their seats.

A urtherpurpOSe is thel provision of a lawn rake including means carried thereby*A for cutting the weeds and wild growth out of a lawn.

A still Jfurther purpose is the provision of improved handle attaching means for connecting the handle to the body ofthe rake.

It is to be understood that the particulars herein given are in no way limitative and that, while still keeping within the scope of the invention, any desired vmodifications of detail and desired proportions may be made in the apparatus according to the circumstances.

The invention comprises further features and combinations of parts to' be hereinafter set forth, shown in the drawings and claimed.

- In the drawings: v

Figure l is a view in kperspective improved rake constructed in accordance with the invention. 1

ofthe Figure 2 is ka similar view, viewing they rake-from another angle. I Figurefisja sectional/.vlew online 3 3 Figure 4' isfa view transversely ofthe frame-'of the rake, showing'l how the coils of the teethfarelinounted.

l Figure 5'is' afdet'a-il'viewof the handle attaching means. 'y Y lReferring]tort-lue drawings, l` designates a. framel which"maybeY of. any-suitable proportions-and .constructed Vot'any suitable :materia-I, preferably sheet metal. rl `his frame. is aii, g'ular` cross section andcomprises the portion 2,` the flange 3 at .the top. ofthe frame and the smaller'ange 4 y atthe lower edge of the' frame. The latter iange is provided with a plurality otspaced notches y5; f

*The body. .portion2 of frame is vpro-y vided with a plurality -ofop'enings 6 fory the f reception otthespri'ng coilsl? 4formed 'in thebody of the teethS'. The teethare con structed of springxwire orI rod 'material vof proper Idiameterin cross section, so that the coils 7 may be formed. The raking portions 9` ofthe teeth' which project below the Vframel are of ycompound curved -orma'- tion, allowing theV teeth-togmore readily give or yield yin the'act of' passing "ove'rfv the lawn.

to the notches in order that the bodyof the teeth may seat inthe notches to hold the teeth equally spaced. The coils act to re- The openingsf yare disposed coincident l store the teeth to vtheir initial positions in the coils will expand slightly. In this way,

the coils firmly grip on the tubular rod so lt is to be under` that there can be no play of the'teeth.l The i overbent portions 11 at points adjacent the,`

ends of the tubular rod act as abutments for the end of the rod to prevent axial movement. A tubular rod is used in lieu of a solid rod for the purpose of reducing the weight of the rake.

Secured at 12 to the flange 3 at the top or the Jframe of the rake is a blade 13, the

end edge of which is sharpened and is de` signed ior cutting weeds and wild growth out ot' a lawn. In using the blade, the rake is inverted so that the `blade can be inserted in the ground at an angle for the purl pose of cutting the weeds below the bud with no injury to the lawn grass.

A split sleeve 1A of tapering formationis provided constituting a socket for the. handle 15. The sleeve is provided at its forward end with diverging arms '16 which terminate in ears 17 which are secured to the frame or head of the rake beneath the flange 3. The end ot the handle which engagesA the socket of the sleeve is tapered.r A suitable collar 18 surrounds the sleeve and engaging through its wall is a screw 19 which passes through the split of the sleeve. In other words, the collar 18 is disposed so that the screw may pass through the split.

Heretofore there has been no way of tightening the handles in the sockets of ralres when they loosen.' lVith this particular construction, it is possible to remove the screw and then by reducing the taper of the handle and reinserting it in the sleeve, the collar may be adjusted further back on the sleeve, allowing the screw to take a new hold in the handle. In fact, the screw may be removed and the handle simply turned to permit the screw to take a new hold in the handle. When the handle is turned, it may be driven into the sleeve and the collar forced as far back as it will go on the sleeve and the screw reinserted and engaged with the handle.,V It ist possible to use two collars, if necessary, but if a single collar is employed it should be relatively wide to insure holding thesleeve in position.

The invention having been set forth, what is claimed is:

1. A lawn rake including a head provided with a plurality of spaced openings, a plurality of rake teeth having spring coils engaged through the openings, means passing thro-ugh the ,coils to retain the coils engaged with the openings.

2. A lawn rake including a head provided with a plurality of spaced openings, a plurality of rake teeth having spring coils engaged through the openings, means passing through the lcoils to retain .the coils engaged with the openinds,and means at the lower edge of the head for retaining the rake teeth equally spaced and preventing lateral play.

3. A lawn rake including a head provided with a plurality,` of spaced openings, a plurality of rake teeth having spring coils 'engaged through the openings, means passing through the `coils to retain the coils en-y gaged with the openings, and means at the end edges of the head tcprevent longitudinal movement of the coil retaining means.

4. A lawn rake including a head provided with a pluralityof spaced openings, a plu' rality of rake teeth having spring coils engaged through the openings, means passing through the Icoils to retain the coils engaged lwith the openings, means at the end edges of the head to prevent longitudinal movement of the coil retaining means, and means at the lower edge of the head for retaining the rake teeth equally spaced and preventing lateral play.

In testimony whereof he ailixes his signature.

ULYSSES G. SWEENEY. 

